I’m no expert on law and immigration, but I have taken out and renewed various visas during the course of my stay(s) in Japan. If you can clarify any of the points I intend to make here please do so.

April, 2010: A change is coming

The biggest change is that all foreign nationals living in Japan will be required to have health insurance from April next year. That means a subscription to the national health insurance scheme, not some poxy travel insurance. Surely most foreigners living here are smart enough to have HI anyway, aren’t they?

I’m not so sure. Not that it’s entirely out fault. You see, many language schools and other employers of foreigners here in Japan loathe paying the fees involved in keeping your insurance topped up. Therefore, they exploit a very thinly disguised loophole in Japanese law. Usually, companies are required to pay (or at least heavily subsidise) health insurance for full time employees. The loophole is that most teachers only teach between 23 and 25 hours a week, which, although practically is full-time, is technically under the minimum working hours to qualify for full time.

You might be wondering how this will affect you. First of all, check that you have health insurance. If so, no need to worry or change a thing. If not, you need to either have stern words with your employer or take out insurance personally.

Cons

The downsides are that you may face backpayments going back to when you first arrived in Japan. Plus the fact that HI is pretty steep anyway – it varies massively but you’re looking at around 20,000yen in most cases.

Pros

The advantages are, of course, that you can rest assured knowing that you can see a doctor if your sick. Plus you get to renew your visa hassle free next year.

You can get more advice from local organizations and governments. If anyone can add to what I have written here we’d be more than happy to hear, so chime in.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The first thing I want to do is direct you away from here to the wealth of internet resources that will give you more information than I possibly can.

Your first site to check should be the official government site, MOFA. It’s got everything, including a handy FAQ.

Applications from ‘Immi‘

Then you can get the forms for your visa, including everything from the certificate of eligibility to an application for a period of extension of stay, from this government resource.

Your next step should be your local immigration office. You’ll need the application form, your work contract, and other documents as necessary depending on your situation (see the Immi link above).

Then you wait…

A fee of 4000yen, and a waiting period of between 2-10 weeks should get you your visa, providing you’ve filled out the forms correctly, and the infamously inconsistent immigration office hasn’t turned down your application because you didn’t include the name of your pet turtle.

Self-sponsorship etc.

Some people have special circumstances, and may even want to sponsor their own visa. In which case I suggest you read this incredibly detailed and helpful blog.

If you’re still not satisfied with all this information, you can read this comprehensive overview of Japanese visas.

Teaching English in Japan is a lot of fun. It’s well worth the hassle of filling out a few visa forms every year, I think.

TEFL in Spain

Most English language education takes place at one of the thousands of language schools, and this is your most likely source of employment. Some of the country’s top schools, such as Berlitz, are nationwide chains that employ many people. However, there are countless smaller operations, including family-run establishments and some rather shady employers, too, so do your research first and don’t get burnt.

Like France, Spain employs Assistant Language Teachers in primary and secondary schools. Although the title is ‘Assistant’ it is actually quite a hands-on role, and your duties will vary. As the government operates public schools, vacancies can be found through them. Pay is secure and it is a well-founded way into teaching English in Spain.

Getting a job

For EU residents, work visas aren’t an issue here, so your only task is to get a foreigner’s registration number. The ease of working in Spain for EU citizens means competition is fierce in the TEFL industry in the major Spanish cities. It seems everyone wants to teach in Barcelona and Madrid. If this is your first TEFL assignment, you might want to look at some of the smaller towns and rural areas around the major cities. Jobs are often easier to come by and accommodation and the cost of living is lower.

September is the peak time for recruitment, although you should begin looking for jobs from as early as June. Check ESL Base and other sites for job postings, and any specialist TEFL newsletters and magazines should have information too. Actually being in Spain at the time is ideal as it means you will be ready to attend any necessary interviews and you will be able to keep a closer eye on the job market.

Ideally, you should have a well-recognised qualification such as TESOL or CELTA before teaching in Spain. Most employers require this, although experience is desirable too. It’s important to note that university level education isn’t as essential as it is in many Asian countries.

Salary and hours

Teaching in a Spanish language school normally consists of a 25 hour (that is, teaching hours) working week, mostly taking place over evenings and some weekend work. ALT’s often work part time at public schools. Salary is normally 1100 euros a month, which is enough to live off, although too much Jambon Serrano and Alhambra will eat away at your salary quickly. Many teachers supplement their income with private lessons, which can provide some much needed extra money.

Visa Issues

Teaching English abroad is a career choice that inherently requires relocating. Not long ago, I had to get a visa in order to come and live and teach in Japan. Obtaining a visa generally requires a sponsor, normally your employer, to apply for your visa in the destination country. In the world of TEFL, this is a fairly common occurrence and most schools are used to the experience of sponsoring a visa application. This makes the workload for you, the employee, minimal. In fact, my part in the application process was merely to provide some personal details (such as work experience and education) and a few photos. Job done. If you don’t have a sponsor it is, at least in Japan, a complicated procedure that may well fail. Although I had to wait some time for my visa to be processed (a nervous two months that tested my patience, I can tell you), it came through without a problem!

Aliens

The task of relocating doesn’t end with the visa. Today I had to register at the local City Hall for an Alien Resident’s Registration Card. More forms in Japanese, more waiting in offices. For all that, you have to expect both monetary expense and endless bureaucracy when you move to a new country. It’s part of the whole experience, I suppose. Fortunately, my employer and my contacts in the city are very helpful people. If you are planning to move abroad, it’s invaluable to get some experience from other ex-pats in the area. Just check the local Irish Pubs for experienced foreigners who, generally, will be happy to share their advice and probably their story.

If you’ve experienced the whole visa application process let me know. Did it go smoothly? Was your employer helpful? Let us know!